We all have had one at one point or another: our favorite watch. You probably don’t have it now because either the battery died or the crystal on the face cracked and you didn’t want to spend the time or the money to repair it. Another common end to our favorite watches is broken bands. None of these problems should necessarily be the death of some of our most worn and most liked pieces of everyday jewelry. Changing a battery is usually a pretty simple task, you can find a jeweler to replace a cracked crystal cheaply enough, and with a little effort, you can even figure out how to replace or repair a watch band on your own.

Watches that have leather or plastic wrist bands with the metal clasps can be easier to fix than chain or linked wrist watch bands. If the watch’s metal clasp has been bent from something you can use a vice grip and a set of pliers to gently hold the metal while you re-bend the clasp until its back to its original shape. Keep in mind that you can leave tool marks on soft metals so be keep an eye out for this to happen when you are using the pliers. If the issue lies with the leather or plastic band itself, then all you have to do is measure the current band and then find another watch band that would fit your wrist (these are available online or in craft and jewelry stores). Remove the old band by taking out the pin holding the strap in place and replace it with the new wrist strap. There are watch repair kits available that can make this process a lot easier.

Watches with chains or linked wristbands can be a little more difficult to work with. I would recommend leaving this kind of a repair to a professional since you could potentially end up doing more harm than good despite your best efforts. If you really are stuck on doing it yourself there are a couple tips that could make your job a little easier. It is not uncommon for the clasps on these types of bands to get bent, unlike the brute force kind of bending you can do for the types of clasps found on plastic and leather watch bands, this kind of clasp needs a little more finesse. Start by making really small adjustments to the clasp pieces, bend it too far and it can be really hard to get it to latch ever again, so be gentle and have some patience. Keep bending little by little until you can get it to re-latch.

If it’s a problem with one of the links in the chain of your watch then you are going to have a harder time repairing it on your own. You can see if a jeweler has any identical links that you can use as a replacement. Most watches are made so that these links can be taken out (usually to adjust the band size) so all you have to do is poke out the pin that connects one link to another and then line up the new link and slide the pin back in. It can be frustrating to try and deal with just because the pieces you are working with are so small, using a grip of some kind to hold everything in place can be really helpful.

Watches make great gifts for Father’s Day. The one thing about watches is that more than one watch for a man is actually a good idea. Even men who aren’t much into “jewelry” will appreciate a new watch for Father’s Day. That is because men can use an everyday watch, a sports watch, and a dress watch. Even more than one of any of any type of watch is welcome by most men so that they can have a choice.

EXECUTIVE DAD

When a father raised children who have been successful, they can show their appreciation for their dad’s support by getting him a fine watch for Father’s Day. There are many fine watch brands to choose from when buying a luxury watch. Know the dad’s preference when choosing a gold or silver watch. Estate, vintage, or antique watches are popular among executives.

NOSTALGIC DAD

The dad who has strong ties to his past will appreciate a watch that has special meaning being repaired and restored. Maybe it’s a watch from his dad when he was young or a watch he inherited from his grandfather. For fine watch repair, be sure it will be guaranteed and come with a certificate. An experienced, certified watch repairer who has experience and is professionally trained should do the repair.

STYLISH DAD

Even dads can have style. Dads who dress with style will appreciate a stylish watch. A stylish watch can be purchased new or it can be an estate, vintage, or antique watch. With the push to reuse non-renewable resources, buying and giving pre-owned watches makes a strong style statement. Buying a watch in a trendy style will make a great gift.

SPORTY DAD

A dad that is into sports will want a sports watch. A sports watch doesn’t just have a sporty design; it will also have features that a man who is interested in sports will use, like a stopwatch. A sports watch will be able to function accurately even when impacted. The material that the watchband is made out of can withstand perspiration. Water resistance is also important. A sports watch is a good choice for a Father’s Day gift because it lets dad keep his good watch in good condition.

CASUAL DAD

The casual dad will want a more casual watch. A watch that is durable and simple will be a good Father’s Day gift for the dad that is more casual. A simple watchband made of leather or other material should be chosen over a gold or silver watchband.

There are many options for Father’s Day gift giving. A watch is something that will be worn and used regularly. Knowing the dad’s style will help in choosing the right watch.

When purchasing a fine watch, look over the selection that Gray & Sons offers. They also have new and estate jewelry for men. To keep up to date on the latest selection of fine watches and jewelry, you can get their free catalog. They also have one of the finest watch repair facilities in the world. Contact Gray & Sons to find out more about buying a watch and watch repair.